During the "cold and flu season," upper respiratory infections are a major occupational hazard for business professionals and especially for speakers. The symptoms can vary from making you sound "stuffed up" with lots of nasality to losing your voice altogether. Here are a few tips to help you avoid respiratory infections and keep you well through the busy holidays.
STAY HYDRATED: Cold Weather and central heating can really dry out your mucus membranes during the winter, making you more susceptible to respiratory infections. Drink extra amounts of water daily.
PRACTICE COLD AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES: Stay away from others with colds. Wash your hands frequently. Eat properly and get enough sleep and exercise.
BUNDLE UP: Wear warm clothing when exposed to winter weather and give special attention to covering your head, ears and throat.
Your respiratory system is very vulnerable at this time and you need to protect your throat and voice.Treat them carefully. Remember that stress and negative attitudes will also affect your voice and speech. So, take good care of yourself, put on a happy face and keep that positive attitude. It can't hurt! Happy holidays!
Every business person spends a great deal of time in company meetings. From an informal coffee to a boardroom, formal or informal, business meetings put your professional savvy under the microscope. Improper behavior at meetings can be disastrous to your career and to company image. Informal meetings are generally more relaxed, but a sense of professionalism and good business etiquette are still required. Meetings don't have to be a non-productive use of people's time if done well, and a respectful culture is promoted. Remember that you are there as a representative of your company, so you need to be considerate of the work culture and participate appropriately.
Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of meetings:
1. Be on time by arriving before the start of the meeting.
2. Be prepared for the meeting. Review meeting materials.
3. Turn off all mobile phones and personal electronic devices.
4. Listen attentively and avoid interrupting anyone while they are speaking. No side conversations. The person who is speaking has the floor "at that moment."
5. Sit in an assigned seat if that is the custom. If you are unsure about seating, ask.
6. Avoid slouching, sprawling or looking bored. Watch your body language.
7. Be an active participant when called upon by saying what is relevant to the topic.
8. Your laptop should be turned on only when presenting information to the group.
9. Avoid exceeding your time allotment when speaking or presenting.
10. Stay focused and avoid reading, eating, chewing gum or doodling.
The door of opportunity swings wide open when you realize what it means to have a genuinely effective business meeting with no wasted time. Get the most out of every meeting by communicating like a pro and maximizing your professional presence. Enhance your company's bottom line and advance your career with professional savvy at meetings.
"Codes of conduct may change with the times, but etiquette is eternal" --Peggy Post
“Have you heard the latest?’ These words, or something similar to them, can be found in virtually every workplace. Workplace gossip may be written in a discreet office email, quietly discussed across the water cooler, or spoken in hushed tones behind cubicle walls. Written or spoken, churning the rumor mill in an office setting is inappropriate, unprofessional and harmful. Even if it’s not malicious, gossip in the workplace breeds resentment and becomes a roadblock to effective communication and collaboration. It kills morale and is a huge waste of time. Here are some suggestions for stopping the spread of unnecessary workplace gossip and chatter.
Ignore the gossip
The first approach for dealing with office gossip is to simply ignore it. People often become tired of something after talking about it for a while, so it’s best to wait things out and see if the gossip fades away. Feeding the office grapevine can gain you a reputation of being the office gossip, and this is one title that you do want to avoid. If someone starts to spread gossip, be honest and let them know that you have no interest in hearing or talking about it. If they persist, you can always excuse yourself and politely walk away. Focus on your work and set an example for others to do the same.
Confirm the facts
Is it fact or fiction? Take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Before you act on something you hear, confirm that it’s true. A lot of the chatter that comes through the gossip mill is entirely false. Employees who start rumors and spread gossip may not intend to cause harm, but water cooler rumors that circulate in the workplace can have a negative effect on business and an entire company. If it’s important to your business, you may feel the need to verify, but take care when acting on rumors or false information.
Gossip at work isn’t likely to disappear. It’s human nature to want to know what’s happening around us, but gossip can sabotage a team’s ability to work together effectively. It is nonproductive and saps the enthusiasm and productivity of a workforce. All in all, rumors and gossip create a divided, stressful and harmful working environment.
Next time you hear a rumor, remember that people’s careers and reputations may be harmed. Check to see if the information is true before you participate or share it. Communicate honestly and work toward a gossip-free environment.
"Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody." ---Benjamin Franklin ___________________________________________________________________________
